Author: Caelin Bragg

The search for the next vice president of finance and administration position has started, and a search committee has been assembled with representatives from university stakeholders.

The search committee members:

Search chair:

• Zach Gearhart, chief of staff and executive director of government relations

Faculty senate:

• Adam Lynch, associate teaching professor of applied engineering

Staff senate:

• Jacob Mendez, interim assistant dean for student success in the College of Engineering

Student representation:

• Matthew Phan, student body vice president

Industry and Defense Programs:

• David Miller, associate vice president for finance and operations

Facilities Services:

• Eason Bryer, executive director

Information Technology Services:

• Ken Harmon, chief information officer

President’s Executive Team:

• Andy Schlapp, vice president of strategy and government relations
• Vicki Whisenhant, chief human resources officer

Finance and Administration:

• Lisa Pappas, executive assistant to the finance and administration divisional officer, providing administrative support to the committee

Isaacson, Miller (IM), an executive search firm, has been engaged to assist WSU with the search. Jackie Mildner, partner with IM who joined in 2005 and helped presidential searches for a number of universities, will lead the IM team.

Timeline of upcoming search milestones:

• Scoping sessions with stakeholders to inform position profile will be held throughout April
• The position profile will be finalized by the end of April
• Semi-finalist interviews will start in early June
• Finalist interviews, including campus visits and public forums, will be held mid to late June
• Final selection is planned in July

The search for Wichita State’s new executive vice president and provost position is under way. A search committee with shared governance representation from Academic Affairs and other constituencies has been formed.

The search committee members:

Search chair:

• Shelly Coleman-Martins, vice president of strategic communications and marketing

Deans:

• Dr. Jennifer Friend, dean, College of Applied Studies
• Dr. Larisa Genin, dean, Barton School of Business

Faculty Senate:

• Jolynn Dowling, president, Faculty Senate, associate educator in the School of Nursing
• Dr. Mathew Muether, president-elect, Faculty Senate, associate professor of physics

Faculty representation:

• Shirlene Small, senior educator of sociology
• Timothy Shade, director of the School of Music
• Patricia Bradley, associate educator in the Barton School of Business

Staff Senate:

• Kennedy Rogers, president, Staff Senate, director of ShockerStrengths
• Krissy Archambeau, director of operations and processing in Admissions

Student representation:

• Kylee Hower, student body president
• John Kirk, president of the Graduate Student Council

Provost Office:

• Dr. Ashlie Jack, senior associate vice president of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Enrollment Management

WSU Tech:

• Dr. Sheree Utash, president, WSU Tech and vice president of workforce development for WSU

President’s Executive Team:

• Marché Fleming-Randle, vice president for military and veterans affairs, chief diversity officer
• John Tomblin, senior vice president for Industry Defense Programs and executive director of NIAR

Isaacson, Miller (IM), an executive search firm, has been engaged to assist WSU with the search. Robin Dougherty, managing associate who joined IM in 2018 with almost 25 years of experience in higher education, will lead the IM team.

The search committee will hold its kick-off meeting at a later date, with President Rick Muma joining the meeting to give the committee its charge.

Dougherty and the IM team will meet with the search committee via Zoom to discuss various aspects of the search and search process.

IM will conduct its work and present candidates for the search committee to review in early September. The goal is for the new executive vice president and provost to be named in November, with a starting date no later than January 2025.

The Shocker women’s bowling team finished first place at the Intercollegiate Teams Championship (ITC), and Sara Duque finished first to take home the Intercollegiate Singles Championship (ISC) national title.

The Shocker men’s bowling team also finished third in the men’s division of the ITC, and Braden Mallasch finished second in the ISC men’s division.

The finals took place April 20. This is the 11th time Shocker women’s bowling has been the national champion.

This marks the final championship for the Shocker women’s bowling team before it moves to the NCAA under Shocker Athletics this summer.

Wichita State’s French Division in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures presents “Chante la vie, chante,” a live event featuring classic French songs recorded during “The Golden Age of French Song 1950-1999” designed and directed by André Nerman, at 7 p.m. Monday, April 22 in the CAC Theater. The musical is free to attend.

It will feature songs by artists such as Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, Serge Gainsbourg and many more. Musicians from Paris will be singing and performing these classic French songs.

The Shocker Store is headed to WSU West for a pop-up shop from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24.

The Shocker Store will be set up in the main lobby of WSU West so guests can shop for some great Shocker gear and enter to win some Shocker prizes.

The Shocker community are invited to attend the groundbreaking for the upcoming Wichita Biomedical Campus at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 8 on the southeast corner of Broadway and William.  

Representatives from Wichita State, University of Kansas and elected officials, will provide remarks beginning at 11:15 a.m., and a reception will follow in NICHE, 124 S. Broadway. 

RSVPs are requested by 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 1.

Do you need a serotonin boost and a mental break from studying or still need a puppy fix after Bark in the Park? Student Activities Council (SAC) is hosting a photo gallery for Shockers to show off their pets.

Join SAC in the Rhatigan Student Center Shocker Store from April 29 to May 2 to admire the Shocker pets under categories: Best Dressed, Caught in the Act, Best Buds and Funniest Pet.

If you would like to include your pet, submit a photo alongside what category you would like to be entered in. The deadline to submit is by 11:59 p.m. April 28.

Join the International Student Union (ISU) for its Interfest event for the spring 2024 semester from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 18 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom.

Attendees will purchase tickets that can be used to grab food at the various booths:

• Pakistani Student Association
• Iranian Student Assocation (IRANSA)
• Paraguayan Student Assocation
• Association of Hindu Students in America (AHINSA)
• Green Card Kitchen
• Warung Mini

Find the full menu on ISU’s Instagram.

Join the Office of Financial Operations, Accounts Receivable in celebrating Theresa Turenne at a come and go retirement reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 26 in 135 Woolsey Hall, with remarks at 3 p.m.

Theresa has served the WSU community for over 20 years. She has worked in both the International Office and Student Accounts Receivable office during her time at WSU. She received her Master’s in Public Administration from WSU and served on the Council of University Women in the past.

Help show appreciation for her service to the university by joining the celebration for refreshments while wishing Theresa all the best as she begins a new chapter.

Spring 2024 graduates may find information regarding their diplomas on the Registrar’s Office webpage (wichita.edu/diplomas). 

• The deadline to submit a name change on diplomas is the last day of classes, May 2.
• The diploma distribution date for the spring 2024 semester is July 1. Diplomas can be picked up at the transcript window on the first floor of Jardine Hall, and graduates must show identification.
• Graduates can request to have the diploma mailed to them for a fee through myWSU under the myClasses tab, clicking “Graduation Links” and “Request for Diploma Mailing.”
• Undergraduate students who wish to take courses after graduation need to reactivate their record after receiving their diploma.